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School closings

As CPS prepares to close a record number of schools, the fate of students and communities is in question.

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John Myers

In the News: CORE complaint expands, CTU election looms May 18, 2010 By: John Myers Teachers union members of the Caucus of Rank and File Educators (CORE) are adding teachers pink-slipped in this spring's turnarounds to discrimination charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The original complaint was filed almost a year ago and claims Chicago's turnaround policy has a disproportionate effect on African-American teachers. Lawyer Jennifer Purcell says she expects a preliminary finding from the EEOC in about two weeks. After that, the U.S. Department of Justice will decide whether it will sue the district for discrimination. If not, the teachers can bring a lawsuit of their own. * The Sun-Times takes note of the crowded field in Friday's Chicago Teachers Union election. Readers have been commenting for nearly two weeks on Catalyst's election roundup. Read More \| (29) Comments	In the News: unequal parks, saving Drill Team May 17, 2010 By: John Myers The Chicago Park District has overhauled playgrounds at a faster clip on the city’s North Side. (Tribune) * Joseph Walker, grandfather of Derrion Albert, seeks a safe passage to school for Chicago's youth. (CNC) * Student activists with Gender JUST surprised Schools Chief Ron Huberman at a fundraiser, demanding a formal grievance process for students who feel they have been discriminated against. (Chicago Pride) * The Great Lakes Regional Games are offering Chicago’s disabled students a chance to compete in sport. (ABC7) * 10 students win $500 for college textbooks at Mayor Daley's annual book club conference. (ABC7) * The South Shore Drill Team will perform downtown in an effort to stave off financial collapse. (Tribune) Read More \| (0) Comments
In the News: Schools to Watch, construction grants May 14, 2010 By: John Myers Evergreen, Libby and Little Village Academy have won Schools to Watch awards—so far, granted to only 16 schools across the state—for gains in the middle grades. (Press release) “This was not a cakewalk. Schools had to rethink everything, and teachers took part in extensive professional development on leadership, departmentalization of middle grades, social-emotional learning and content areas," said outgoing Chief Education Officer Barbara Eason-Watkins. Principals from Evergreen and Little Village will begin to train colleagues next year on the strategies and philosophy of middle-grades education, says Chief Area 10 Officer Isabel Mesa-Collins. The three schools are part of the Cluster 4 Middle Grades Project, supported by the Searle Funds at the Chicago Community Trust; and the McDougal Family Foundation. Marshall Middle previously won a Schools to Watch award. More coverage from ABC7. * CPS staff from the Office of School Turnaround traveled to Fort Leavenworth recently to study virtual learning in the Army. (Ft. Leavenworth Lamp) Read More \| (4) Comments	CPS involved in 43 proposals for federal innovation grants May 13, 2010 By: John Myers The deadline passed quietly yesterday for submissions in the $650 million federal stimulus competition known as the Investing in Innovation, or i3, grant program. For Chicago Public Schools officials, quiet is good. They have yet to publicly name the organizations with whom they are partnering, lest a competitor use the information to its advantage. Still, the district did say it will be serving as the lead agency in two “development level” applications—one aimed at school turnarounds and another at beefing up the skills of teachers and school leaders. Read More \| (2) Comments
In the News: TIFs and school access, pink slips May 13, 2010 By: John Myers Restricted access to Skinner Elementary creates political friction as aldermen consider the use of tax-increment financing districts in school construction. (Chicago Journal) * Drawing from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Goodman Theatre is helping students from VOISE and three other Chicago schools to create art and find empathy. (WBEZ) * Despite low test scores, Young Women’s Leadership seeks renewal for its charter and recognition for its inspired and college-bound students. (Chicago Journal) * The MacArthur Foundation has selected 10 new digital media learning projects to share $1.7 million in competitive grants. Among the winners: a coral reef conservation project that connects students on Chicago’s West Side with peers in Fiji. * In Illinois, losing a job in the teaching profession is a painfully slow process. (Tribune) Read More \| (11) Comments	In the News: world language cuts, golden apples May 12, 2010 By: John Myers Chicago’s $3.5 million world languages program is on the chopping block. (Sun-Times) * WBEZ: most of the 80 principals who will leave Chicago schools this year were not, contrary to news reports, forced out for low performance. For a complete breakdown, don't miss Catalyst's recent report. Related: Eight Forty-Eight talks with UIC’s Peter Martinez about the challenges of finding 80 qualified principals. * Five teachers won Golden Apple Awards yesterday. Another four winners will be surprised in class today. (Tribune) * A healthy cooking program is launching in the Broadway Armory—part of a $100,000 health and fitness campaign coming to the Park District. (Tribune) * The Tribune’s Dennis Byrne suggests campaign support from teachers unions led several Republicans to vote against school vouchers. Related: Jim Broadway of the State School News Service says SB2494 may resurface soon. Read More \| (2) Comments
In the News: firing principals, frustrated teacher grads May 11, 2010 By: John Myers During a hearing on TIF-funded school construction, Schools Chief Ron Huberman tells a City Council Finance Committee that the district will replace 80 principals in struggling schools. (Sun-Times) That is a very high number for us. We don't believe those principals are performing for schools. ... A key leader in a school makes a big difference," he said. * Deep cuts in the teaching ranks have new education graduates looking outside Chicago for work. (Tribune) * The Times’ Bob Herbert notes that CeaseFire operates in only a quarter of the Chicago areas in which it should. * A bus crashed into Rowe-Clark Math and Science Academy. (Sun-Times) Read More \| (4) Comments	In the News: crime down, budget stalled May 10, 2010 By: John Myers Chicago violent crime is down. (Tribune) * Aldermen, University Village Association consider options for Jackson Language Academy expansion. (Gazette) * Parents rally to stave off McCorkle’s consolidation into Beethoven. (Gazette) * Consortium founding co-director Penny Bender Sebring discusses Chicago school improvement efforts on Beyond the Beltway. * Despite poor facilities and budget cuts, Lane Tech’s women’s soccer squad wins. (Tribune) * Caremark wins $800 million pharmacy contract with Chicago Public Schools and other city agencies. (CNC) * Attorney General backs teachers’ request for CPS budget documents. (CORE blog) * State budget apparently on hold until June. (WBEZ) Read More \| (1) Comments
In the News: budget endgame, Goodall awards May 07, 2010 By: John Myers Primatologist Jane Goodall hands out community leadership awards to seven Chicago students at Al Raby High ceremony. (Sun-Times) * Greg Hinz takes note of the divisions in GOP ranks that helped sink the school voucher bill. (Crain's) * In a highly partisan vote, state senators approved a budget early this morning. But the measure has stalled in the House, where some Democrats are objecting to delayed pension payments. (Sun-Times) * For a sixth year, Rockford school officials are visiting Spain to recruit bilingual teachers. (RR Star) Read More \| (8) Comments

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